Radiation Tips and Advice PLEASE!
Good afternoon lovely ladies!
So we saw the radio oncologist on Tuesdy and it was an interesting discussion. There is only a very small difference in the chances of breast cancer coming back in the breast if I have radiation instead of a mastectomy. He asked about how important it is to preserve the breast, I said very important. My hubby also said that I don't do surgeries very well and that worries us., we want it as the last resort if that can happen. The radio oncologist was talking about the clear margin of tissue beyond the cancer area as the deciding factor about whether things are done or not. In Oz the recommendation is usually 1cm and I have 0.5 cm. he said that in the US 1 mm is clearance, crazy. This is why the decisions are being left to me and it is so hard. Either way it is an under 10% chance of cancer coming back and it could come back anywhere in the body. We are currently thinking that by doing chemo, radiation and hormone therapy that that should be enough, a risk I/we are prepared to take, if it comes back then we will have the mastectomy. We see the plastic surgeon on the 25th and then BC surgeon again on the 3rd Mar to make the decision. I have signed a consent form to start the ball rolling for radiation but I can cancel if I decide to go with surgery. No one knows what the future installs for anyone. Hope this makes some sense.
Anyway, I and my chemo buddy friend, who I caught up with for lunch today and is also about to go go through radiation too, are wondering what advice and tips about caring for your breast and surrounding area you lovely ladies can give us for before, during and end of radiation. Thank you in anticipation.